Synthesis and Pharmacological Characterization of 2-(2,6-Dichlorophenyl)-1-((1S,3R)-5-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-1-methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl)ethan-1-one (LY3154207), a Potent, Subtype Selective, and Orally Available Positive Allosteric Modulator of the Human Dopamine D1 Receptor.

Clinical development of catechol-based orthosteric agonists of the dopamine D1 receptor has thus far been unsuccessful due to multiple challenges. To address these issues, we identified LY3154207 (3) as a novel, potent, and subtype selective human D1 positive allosteric modulator (PAM) with minimal allosteric agonist activity. Conformational studies showed LY3154207 adopts an unusual boat conformation, and a binding pose with the human D1 receptor was proposed based on this observation. In contrast to orthosteric agonists, LY3154207 showed a distinct pharmacological profile without a bell-shaped dose-response relationship or tachyphylaxis in preclinical models. Identification of a crystalline form of free LY3154207 from the discovery lots was not successful. Instead, a novel cocrystal form with superior solubility was discovered and determined to be suitable for development. This cocrystal form was advanced to clinical development as a potential first-in-class D1 PAM and is now in phase 2 studies for Lewy body dementia.

Synthesis and Pharmacological Characterization of C4ß-Amide-Substituted 2-Aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylates. Identification of (1 S,2 S,4 S,5 R,6 S)-2-Amino-4-[(3-methoxybenzoyl)amino]bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic Acid (LY2794193), a Highly Potent and Selective mGlu3 Receptor Agonist.

Multiple therapeutic opportunities have been suggested for compounds capable of selective activation of metabotropic glutamate 3 (mGlu3) receptors, but small molecule tools are lacking. As part of our ongoing efforts to identify potent, selective, and systemically bioavailable agonists for mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptor subtypes, a series of C4ß-N-linked variants of (1 S,2 S,5 R,6 S)-2-amino-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid 1 (LY354740) were prepared and evaluated for both mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptor binding affinity and functional cellular responses. From this investigation we identified (1 S,2 S,4 S,5 R,6 S)-2-amino-4-[(3-methoxybenzoyl)amino]bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid 8p (LY2794193), a molecule that demonstrates remarkable mGlu3 receptor selectivity. Crystallization of 8p with the amino terminal domain of hmGlu3 revealed critical binding interactions for this ligand with residues adjacent to the glutamate binding site, while pharmacokinetic assessment of 8p combined with its effect in an mGlu2 receptor-dependent behavioral model provides estimates for doses of this compound that would be expected to selectively engage and activate central mGlu3 receptors in vivo.

Synthesis and pharmacological characterization of 4-substituted-2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylates: identification of new potent and selective metabotropic glutamate 2/3 receptor agonists.

As part of our ongoing interest in identifying novel agonists acting at metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) 2/3 receptors, we have explored the effect of structural modifications of 1S,2S,5R,6S-2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate (LY354740), a potent and pharmacologically balanced mGlu2/3 receptor agonist. Incorporation of relatively small substituents (e.g., F, O) at the C4 position of this molecule resulted in additional highly potent mGlu2/3 agonists that demonstrate excellent selectivity over the other mGlu receptor subtypes, while addition of larger C4-substituents (e.g., SPh) led to a loss of agonist potency and/or the appearance of weak mGlu2/3 receptor antagonist activity. Further characterization of the α-fluoro-substituted analogue (LY459477) in vivo revealed that this molecule possesses good oral bioavailability in rats and effectively suppresses phencyclidine-evoked locomotor activity at doses that do not impair neuromuscular coordination. This molecule therefore represents a valuable new addition to the arsenal of pharmacological tools competent to investigate mGlu2/3 receptor function both in vitro and in vivo.

Discovery of (1R,2R)-N-(4-(6-isopropylpyridin-2-yl)-3-(2-methyl-2H-indazol-5-yl)isothiazol-5-yl)-2-methylcyclopropanecarboxamide, a potent and orally efficacious mGlu5 receptor negative allosteric modulator.

A novel series of selective negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) for metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu5) was discovered from an isothiazole scaffold. One compound of this series, (1R,2R)-N-(4-(6-isopropylpyridin-2-yl)-3-(2-methyl-2H-indazol-5-yl)isothiazol-5-yl)-2-methylcyclopropanecarboxamide (24), demonstrated satisfactory pharmacokinetic properties and, following oral dosing in rats, produced dose-dependent and long-lasting mGlu5 receptor occupancy. Consistent with the hypothesis that blockade of mGlu5 receptors will produce analgesic effects in mammals, compound 24 produced a dose-dependent reduction in paw licking responses in the formalin model of persistent pain.

Stimulated Brillouin scattering continuous wave phase conjugation in step-index fiber optics.

Continuous wave (CW) stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) phase conjugation in step-index optical fibers was studied experimentally and modeled as a function of fiber length. A phase conjugate fidelity over 80% was measured from SBS in a 40 m fiber using a pinhole technique. Fidelity decreases with fiber length, and a fiber with a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.06 was found to generate good phase conjugation fidelity over longer lengths than a fiber with 0.13 NA. Modeling and experiment support previous work showing the maximum interaction length which yields a high fidelity phase conjugate beam is inversely proportional to the fiber NA(2), but find that fidelity remains high over much longer fiber lengths than previous models calculated. Conditions for SBS beam cleanup in step-index fibers are discussed.

Phase analysis of stimulated Brillouin scattering in long, graded-index optical fiber.

A continuous-wave beam was wavefront-split by a prism and propagated through separate paths before being coupled into a long, graded-index fiber. Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) was generated in the fiber and the phase of the reflection was compared to that of the pump using lateral shearing interferometers immediately after reflection and also after propagating back through the separate paths. To analyze the phase conjugating properties of SBS in the fiber, one of the paths included a pathlength oscillation. It was found that SBS from the long, graded-index fiber did not conjugate the phase of the pump. SBS formed a phase-locked beam immediately after reflection from the fiber, but did not lock the phases of the two beams after recombination as would be expected from a phase conjugate reflection.

Synthesis and metabotropic glutamate receptor activity of S-oxidized variants of (-)-4-amino-2-thiabicyclo-[3.1.0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylate: identification of potent, selective, and orally bioavailable agonists for mGlu2/3 receptors.

(-)-4-Amino-2-thiabicyclo-[3.1.0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylate (LY389795, (-)-3) is a highly potent and selective agonist of metabotropic glutamate receptors 2 (mGlu2) and 3 (mGlu3). As part of our ongoing research program, we have prepared S-oxidized variants of (-)-3, compounds (-)-10, (+)-11 (LY404040), and (-)-12 (LY404039). Each of these chiral heterobicyclic amino acids displaced specific binding of the mGlu2/3 receptor antagonist 3H-2S-2-amino-2-(1S,2S-2-carboxycycloprop-1-yl)-3-(xanth-9-yl)propanoic acid (3H-LY341495) from membranes expressing recombinant human mGlu2 or mGlu3 and acted as potent agonists in cells expressing these receptor subtypes. Docking of the most potent of these derivatives, (+)-11, to mGlu2 revealed the possibility of an additional H-bond interaction between the sulfoxide oxygen of (+)-11 with tyrosine residue Y236. Pharmacokinetic analysis of mGlu active enantiomers (+)-11 and (-)-12 in rats showed each to be well absorbed following oral administration. Consistent with their mGlu2/3 agonist potency and pharmacokinetic properties, both (+)-11 and (-)-12 blocked phencyclidine-evoked ambulations in a dose-dependent manner, indicating their potential as nonclassical antipsychotic agents.

Methyl substitution of 2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 2,6-dicarboxylate (LY354740) determines functional activity at metabotropic glutamate receptors: identification of a subtype selective mGlu2 receptor agonist.

LY354740 (1) is a highly potent and selective agonist of metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors 2 and 3. In the present study, we have prepared C3- and C4-methyl-substituted variants of rac-1, compounds 5, 9, and 13. Each of these racemic methyl-substituted analogues displaced specific binding of the mGlu2/3 receptor antagonist (3)H-2S-2-amino-2-(1S,2S-2-carboxycycloprop-1-yl)-3-(xanth-9-yl)propanoic acid ((3)H-LY341495) from membranes expressing mGlu2 or mGlu3 receptor subtypes. Evaluation of the functional effects of this series on second messenger responses in cells expressing human mGlu2 or mGlu3 receptors revealed C3beta-methyl analogue 5 to possess antagonist properties at both mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptors while C4beta-methyl analogue 9 acts as a full agonist at each of these targets. Unexpectedly, we found that incorporation of a methyl substituent at the C4alpha-position as in analogue 13 results in a mixed mGlu2 agonist/mGlu3 antagonist pharmacological profile. All of the mGlu2 agonist and mGlu3 antagonist activity of rac-13 was found to reside in its resolved (+)-isomer.